“The friction grip,” by Dan Djurdjevic

“While I’m on the topic of reflexes, I thought I’d deal with one that I’ve previously alluded to but which I think deserves specific attention, namely the ‘grip reflex’.

What is the grip reflex? Briefly put, it is the human tendency to ‘hold on to what you’ve got’ in times of danger or other emergency. The origins of this reflex are easy to understand; when control is of the essence (eg. in climbing, holding or pulling etc.) your capacity to keep a firm and constant grip with your hands is vital.”